Virender Sehwag to Host Rise and Fall Season 2, Makes Streaming Debut

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag is making a move from the cricket field to the world of reality television as the host of Rise and Fall Season 2. The upcoming season will mark his streaming debut as he takes charge of a competition centred on power, money, strategy and changing alliances.

The makers have released the first promo for the second season, offering a glimpse of Sehwag in his new role. Known for his direct style, humour and fearless approach to cricket, the former India opener appears set to bring the same straightforward personality to the reality show.

The promotional video draws a comparison between cricket and the unpredictable nature of the show's power game. Just as a cricket match can change dramatically before the final ball, contestants on Rise and Fall will have to constantly adapt as their positions, alliances and influence shift throughout the competition.

The second season features 15 celebrity contestants who will be divided into two groups known as the Rulers and the Workers. The Rulers stay in a comparatively luxurious penthouse, while the Workers live in the basement. Contestants can move between the two levels as the competition progresses, with their status influenced by decisions, alliances and strategic choices.

Money and influence are key elements of the format, meaning that the contestants' positions are not fixed. Those at the top can lose their power, while those at the bottom have opportunities to climb the hierarchy through gameplay and strategy.

Sehwag's appointment as host brings a different dimension to the series. After years of assessing bowlers, opponents and match situations, he will now observe contestants as they deal with alliances, rivalries, betrayals and calculated moves inside the reality-show environment.

Sehwag has compared the show's unpredictability with his experience in cricket, saying that a match is not decided before the final ball. He is expected to focus on how contestants take risks, build alliances and decide when to make aggressive moves and when to hold back.

The second season continues the format's central contrast between people at the top and bottom of its power structure. The concept was originally developed by UK production company Studio Lambert, while the Indian version is produced by Banijay Asia.

Rise and Fall Season 2 will be available to stream for free on Prime Video and the MX Player Android app, which has been refreshed as MX Player by Prime Video. The new season is scheduled to premiere soon, with Sehwag taking on a new innings as the show's host.